Feature

A guide to surface hardening of steels

“If correct procedures are followed, induction and flame hardening probably offer the lowest level of distortion of all the available range of heat treatment processes,” says Roger Haw, Managing Director of Flame Hardeners Ltd.

04/01/2022 15:30:46

Surface hardening is a process whereby the metallic structure in the outer layer of a component is changed by heating and quenching, to improve properties in only a selected area of the component. For instance, the bearing track only in a bearing element, the gear tooth only on a gear, the slideway surface only on a guideway, or the cam track area only of a cam. It is neither a coating process nor a finishing process, i.e. it does not add any further elements to the material or lay on different materials.

The process is highly energy efficient, since heat is applied only to those areas requiring improved properties and not to the whole bulk of the component. Many engineering components can fulfil their desired functions satisfactorily, without a particularly high core strength in the material – providing that the surface under load is adequate.

Read the full article in DPA's January issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.